Vale of Glamorgan: Childcare Offer for Wales

Are you the parent or carer of a pre-school child aged 3-4? Are you working or studying, and looking for help with your childcare costs?

If you are you may be eligible for the Childcare Offer, which provides eligible parents with up to 30 hours of funded early education and childcare per week.

Parents in receipt of certain benefits such as carers allowance, or those relating to incapacity for work may also be eligible*

Additional funding may also be available for children who require additional support to access their childcare setting**

For more information please contact the team on 03000 628628 or email childcareoffer@valeofglamorgan.gov.uk

*terms and conditions apply
**subject to referral and eligibility assessment

Grantham: The Incredible Years Toddler Programme

Information provided by Grantham HIVE

 

Are you planning to register for Wraparound Childcare (WAC) Overseas funding in January 2025?

 
What is Wraparound Childcare funding?

The Wraparound Childcare (WAC) scheme provides funding for up to 20 hours per week, per child, during term time, to eligible Service families with children aged 4 to 11 years old (4-16 years old if receiving Government disability allowances) who are in full time education in school or being home educated. Over 7,000 Service children's before and after school childcare is currently being funded by WAC.

If you are assigned to a location within the European Economic Area & Switzerland (EEA&S) or using Defence Children Services (DCS) before and after school childcare provision? WAC Overseas will be available to eligible families in these areas from 6 January 2025.

Scotland: Enquire, the Scottish Advice Service for additional support for learning 'Moving to Scotland Guide'

Moving to a new country and education system can be a worrying and busy time for families with a child with additional support needs.

Enquire have explained the key information you need if your family is moving to Scotland. This includes how education and support work in Scotland, and what you can do to help get everything arranged for your child’s move.

To read the guide 👉 enquire.org.uk

Information provided by Leuchars HIVE

Surrey: become a registered childminder

Are you considering becoming a registered childminder and would like to find out more?

A registered childminder is a person who looks after one or more children for more than a total of two hours a day in their own home. They are registered and inspected by Ofsted. 

Surrey County Council are committed to supporting childminders to provide high quality childcare and early years education. Our 'Becoming a Registered Childminder' (BaRC) training is made up of two face-to-face full day sessions, delivered over two consecutive weeks, for those interested in joining the childminding profession. 

The training covers the legislation and implications of caring for other people's children in a home environment to ensure that children are safe, well cared for and take part in activities that contribute to their learning and development. 

The training also details your statutory duties as set out in the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage.

Click HERE for more information

Information provided by South East HIVE Hub

Grantham: Parent and Carer Forum

Information provided by Grantham HIVE

 

Winchester - Home-Start Family Groups

Information provided by South East HIVE Hub

Bicester: tower treasures baby and toddler group - every Thursday during termtime

Baby and toddler drop-in group ages 0-4. Play, enjoy refreshments, stories, songs and a chat! The Parish Room, St Michael at the North Gate, termtime Thursdays 10-11.45am. 

Click HERE for more information.

Information provided by South East HIVE Hub.

Surrey: childcare provision and funding - Surrey Additional Needs and Disabilities

Childcare providers have a legal duty to offer extra support to meet the needs of a child with a disability under the Equality Act 2010. This might include installing a ramp to allow wheelchair access to their premises, or training staff to use special equipment. 

They will also be able to apply to Surrey County Council to access additional support and funding to help pay for extra staff, training or resources that have been identified as necessary to allow your child to attend their setting. More information is available on the Surrey website below.

Click HERE for more information. 

Information provided by South East HIVE Hub

Army Families Federation (AFF) – childcare survey

 
AFF want to know about your experience of early years childcare.

“We want to understand how issues such as availability and cost affect your family, and how your experience varies by location, so we've launched a short survey that runs until 6 December".

Army Families' Experiences of 0-5 Childcare Survey​

Surrey: working in early years and childcare

A job in early years and childcare is unique and rewarding. You get to be part of a child's early education and help to shape their future, and there are lots of roles to suit everyone.

Work in a nursery

Work in a pre-school or nursery school

Work as a childminder

Work in before and after school clubs

Click HERE for more information

Information provided by South East HIVE Hub

London: Home Start London

Home Start are there for parents when they need it the most because childhood can’t wait

All parents struggle at one time or another and Home-Start is ready to support London families through their toughest times.

Home-Start trains and supports volunteers to work alongside parents in their own home giving compassionate and confidential support, tailored to each family. Home-Start London is a consortium of 12 local Home-Starts operating across 24 London boroughs. 

Click HERE for more information.

Information provided by South East HIVE Hub

The Vale of Glamorgan: Update on the Winter Issue of The Index

The Winter Issue of The Index newsletter is due out in February 2025

If you would like to promote your service, group, activity, or would like to find out more about a service, please send information to Theindex@valeofglamorgan.gov.uk by the 13th December at the latest.

Or phone 0800 5871 014

Many Thanks

Index Officer & FIS Team

Click here if you missed the Summer Newsletter

Information provided by Wales HIVE Hub. 

Get ready for a Wraparound Childcare (WAC) expansion to some overseas locations - coming spring term 2025

 

Are you assigned to a location within the European Economic Area & Switzerland (EEA&S) or using Defence Children Services (DCS) before and after school childcare provision? WAC Overseas will be available to eligible families in these areas from 6 January 2025.

What is Wraparound Childcare funding?

The Wraparound Childcare (WAC) scheme provides funding for up to 20 hours per week, per child, during term time, to eligible Service families with children aged 4 to 11 years old (4-16 years old if receiving Government disability allowances) who are in full time education in school or being home educated. Over 7,000 Service children's before and after school childcare is currently being funded by WAC.

Temporary registration and claims process for WAC Overseas.

A temporary process will be in place from January until at least April 2025. Due to the migration of JPA to the Cloud it is not possible for WAC Overseas registrations and claims to be added to the WAC area of JPA straight away. The temporary process has been put in place to enable eligible families to claim WAC Overseas funding while this migration work takes place. Once JPA migration to the Cloud is complete, there will be a requirement to re-register to continue to submit claims, via JPA in the future. Further guidance documents will be available on the Defence Childcare Information Page on DefNet and Defence Connect in January.

Aldershot: Little saints toddler group - every Monday in term time

Information provided by South East HIVE Hub.

Leuchars: Bright Horizons Day Care Centre currently have places available for children aged between 6 months and 5 years.

click on image to enlarge

Bright Horizons Daycare Centre at Leuchars currently have places available for children aged between 6 months and 5 years.

Our daily rate of £52.00 for a full day and £28.00 for a half day ensures we provide an affordable wrap around childcare option for you and your family.

Information provided by Leuchars HIVE

Aldershot: Garrison Community Hub Military Families Stay and Play Every Mondy 1-4:30pm

 

Information provided by South East HIVE Hub

Grantham: Belton Lane and Swingbridge Children's Centre Timetables

Information provided by Grantham HIVE

Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust: Over £380K awarded to enhance Early Years provision for Service families

The Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust (The Trust) have awarded funding worth over £380,000 to a further 12 fantastic projects supporting Service children in the latest round of the Early Years programme!

These projects are set to help enhance early childhood education and childcare to better support the unique needs and challenges of young children from Armed Forces families.

Dedicated resources for Service children across the UK 

Part of the MOD’s Armed Forces Families Fund, the Early Years programme supports initiatives that help Armed Forces families access good quality early childhood education and childcare provision. This will enhance capacity, allowing more Service children to enrol, create improved learning environments, and offer suitable training for staff development to address the unique challenges faced by Service children.

Hampshire: Home Start Hampshire in Rushmoor & Hart

At Home-Start Hampshire we run a range of family groups which are by referral only, third party or self-referral. The groups are supported by trained and experienced volunteers who will ensure you and your little one(s) are welcomed, feel safe and have a positive experience.

All of our groups provide a safe non-judgmental environment where families can make the first steps to regular social interaction and peer support.

To refer a family to one of our groups, or make a self-referral please complete and return a referral form, which can be found HERE

Information provided by South East HIVE Hub